Choreographers

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by choreographer Robert Battle. Robert tells us about how he started a company to push his own choreographic work, what it was like to become the third director in the history of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and how he's just begun to explore his recent post as resident choreographer of Paul Taylor Dance Company. To see Robert's latest work for Paul Taylor on tour visit paultaylordance.org/performances.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Emmy award winning choreographer, Joshua Bergasse. Joshua tells us about breaking into the theater world as a choreographer, how collaborating with other creative teams impacts his work, branching out into television on the hit show 'Smash', and the full circle moment of first performing in West Side Story and now staging the choreography in the current Lyric Opera of Chicago production, running now through June 25th at the Lyric Opera House. Ticket available at lyricopera.org.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://bit.ly/3NQwoDjPerformance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by choreographer Hope Boykin. We catch up with Hope about her retirement and transition to full time choreographer, as well as her process and preparation for her new work 'States Of Hope' that will premiere at the Joyce Theater this October 17th and run through October 22nd. If you are in the New York area and would like to purchase tickets, visit joyce.org/performances. Listen to our first episode with Hope from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival: https://www.conversationsondancepod.com/episodes-transcripts/hope-boykin-2019-vail-dance-festival.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographers Christopher Bruce and Jacquelyn Long, whose works will be featured on the upcoming Houston Ballet program "Rock, Roll & Tutus". They take us through their creative processes, how they select and interpret music through dance and each of their long artistic relationships with Houston Ballet, with Christopher honing his work with the company for decades and Jacquelyn rising to the rank of soloist before being singled out for her choreographic talents. To purchase tickets to "Rock, Roll & Tutus", premiering September 18th and running through the 28th, visit houstonballet.org. SPONSOR: Chicago's Wrightwood 659 presents Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet and the life of Robert Joffrey. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the Librarys largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffreys contributions to ballet in the U.S. Highlights include rare film from the original performance of the groundbreaking ballet Astarte and Anna Sokolows Opus 65, as well as costumes, props, pointe shoes, posters, correspondence, and other ephemera from the company and Robert Joffreys life. On view October 3rd through Dec 20th. For more information, visit wrightwood659.org

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Artistic Director of Ballet West, Adam Sklute and choreographer Val Caniparoli. At the outset of Ballet West's 2024-2025 season, Adam lays out his vision for the company, including the season opener of Val's "Jekyll and Hyde". Val and Adam talk about their long artistic relationship, how new story ballets are the lifeblood of classical ballet companies and what "Jekyll and Hyde" does to push dancers and audiences alike. If you are in the Salt Lake City area, performances run October 25th through November 2nd and can be purchased at Balletwest.org. New York Times article Val references regarding his time making 'Jekyll & Hyde' during COVID at Finnish National Ballet: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/arts/dance/finnish-national-ballet-jekyll-and-hyde.html

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by street dancer, creator and teacher YungChris. Chris tells us about his early beginnings in dance, how stepping away during college refueled his desire to perform, and how traveling extensively feeds his creative impulses. The first artist to receive this commission twice, Chris is the creative mind behind one of three upcoming premieres at Performing Arts Houston's "New/Now" program, to be presented this March 6th and 7th. If you're in the Houston area, visit performingartshouston.org for to purchase tickets. 'Tip Toe Thomas' New/Now Commission from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzaOJWAMCKo

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by choreographer, Omar Romn De Jess. Omar takes us through his early training in Puerto Rico, the leap of faith he took in moving to New York City and how his humble early choreographic beginnings have led to a Princess Grace Award and commissions from world renowned companies. Omar's first work for Ballet Hispanico will premiere at New York City Center this summer, with performances running June 1st through the 3rd, on a program featuring additional works by Pedro Ruiz, Michelle Manzanales and William Forsythe. Tickets can be purchased at nycitycenter.org.

This episode was recorded live on October 19, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. Guests in this episode are Tony Award winning choreographer and former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer, Patricia Delgado, and Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Gonzalo Garcia.

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with tap visionary and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Michelle Dorrance and artists from Trinity Irish Dance Company, the Chicago-based ensemble that has spent 35 years pioneering a genre-defying fusion of Irish step dance, tap, and contemporary movement.Dorrance and Trinity share a deep creative history, with Dorrance having choreographed multiple works for the company that push the boundaries of what percussive dance can be. Hear how this extraordinary collaboration was born, what it’s like to work across two distinct movement traditions, and what Dorrance is creating this summer at Vail.Stay tuned for more episodes coming from the Vail Dance Festival 2026.Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by The Town of Vail.

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Silas Farley, teacher and choreographer formerly of the New York City Ballet, to talk about his upcoming premiere for Houston Ballet on their fall program 'Velocity'. Silas talks about his early and singular devotion to the art form, how he found his way to teaching and choreography after his career with NYCB and gives a full deep dive into the process, concept and collaborative nature of his latest work. If you are in the Houston, visit houstonballet.org to buy tickets for Silas' premiere, running from September 19th through the 29th.

Today on Conversations On Dance we are thrilled to talk about a special children's programming co-production between Miami City Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet, Rita Finds Home'. We are joined by the choreographer Amy Hall Garner and Miami City Ballet Director Of Community Engagement Monica Stephenson to talk about how Rita' relates to children today, why it was important to create something entirely new and how it's different from other works traditionally geared towards young audiences. Tickets to this performance are free. If you are in the south Florida area, you can reserve tickets to a performance of Rita Finds Home' near you by going to miamicityballet.org/ritafindshome.You can support Monica's Community Engagement work like Rita Finds Home' and the Ballet Bus program, here.

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Australian Choreographer, Tim Harbour. Tim tells us about his ballet career with The Australian Ballet, how he became interested in creating dance, and about his process. We talk in depth about his work, 'Filigree and Shadow,' which will be performed by Houston Ballet this month. Tim tell us about what inspired the work, what sets it apart form some of his other ballets, and working with Houston Ballet dancers. If you are in the Houston area, see 'Filigree and Shadow' as a part of Houston Ballet's "Bespoke" program, running March 7 - 17. For tickets and more information, visit houstonballet.org.

This week on the podcast we are joined by choreographer John Heginbotham. John tells us about his journey from early training in Alaska to a Juilliard education and a career with Mark Morris, before beginning to more fully explore choreography on his own in mediums as varied as opera, television and musical theater. This week his choreography will be presented at Baryshnikov Arts in sold out performances of "Woolgathering", an evening length spoken word opera in collaboration with director and composer Oliver Tompkins Ray and the legendary writer and performer Patti Smith.

Today we are joined by choreographer Andreas Heise. Born in Germany, Andreas began his formal ballet training at the age of 16. In 1998, he joined his first company, Leipziger Ballett, and in 2003, he joined the Norwegian National Ballet in Oslo where he performed many leading roles. In 2006 Andreas started to choreograph regularly for the Norwegian National Ballet and has since choreographed for companies around the world. Today Andreas talks to us about how he came to dance, about his career, his background in music and opera, his choreography, and his dance film for friend of the pod, Trey McIntyre's streaming service, FLTPK (flatpack). See Andreas' newest dance film created exclusively for FLTPK starting Friday, December 18th, 2020 at 8pm EST on FLTPK.com. You can join now for as little as $2 per month and your patron dollars go directly to support the artists involved in the platform.

This episode was recorded live at the Vail Dance Festival on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Larry Keigwin has the kind of versatility in his choreographic portfolio that makes him an instant fit for the Vail Dance Festival: commissions from iconic organizations like the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Martha Graham Dance Company, acclaimed work on broadway, and the founding of his own ensemble, Keigwin + Company, now in its 20th season. Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden sit down with Keigwin to talk about his rich personal history as a dance maker, his passion for dance education, and how his work Rhapsody, which will have its VDF premiere this year, utilizes community members alongside artists to create a harmonious celebration of humanity and shared space.See his community work, 'Rhapsody,' on Tuesday July 30: https://vaildance.org/event/dance-for-2024/.Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan, weeks before his brand new full length production "Lady Macbeth" premieres at the Royal Danish Ballet. He tells us how the dancers of the company have immersed themselves through months of singular focus, how the work's plot has evolved since its inception, and how much his own dance language has fused with classical ballet vernacular to create the world of this ballet. "Lady Macbeth" runs April 24th through June 4th at the opera house mainstage in Copenhagen.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we welcome internationally acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan. He shares with us his unorthodox path to a career as a dancer and choreographer, from spending grueling hours in his garage teaching himself dance to his path to university, his process while working with dancers new to his style of movement, and how rewarding it has been to unite artists working within different methods of classical indian dance in his latest project "Gigenis". "Gigenis" will be performed at the Kennedy Center from April 17th through the 19th. If you're in the Washington DC area and would like to purchase tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a vibrant live podcast recording spotlighting the Vail Dance Festivals Rising Voices: Gianna Reisen, MyKal Stromile, and Rachel Lockhart. These dynamic emerging artists represent the new generation of dance innovators, each bringing a fresh voice and perspective to the art form. Hear about their journeys, creative visions, and the inspiration behind their work as they prepare to make their mark on the Festival stage. Reisen, Stromile, and Lockhart will be creating new work for this years NOW: Premieres program. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 1, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographers Christopher Bruce and Jacquelyn Long, whose works will be featured on the upcoming Houston Ballet program "Rock, Roll & Tutus". They take us through their creative processes, how they select and interpret music through dance and each of their long artistic relationships with Houston Ballet, with Christopher honing his work with the company for decades and Jacquelyn rising to the rank of soloist before being singled out for her choreographic talents. To purchase tickets to "Rock, Roll & Tutus", premiering September 18th and running through the 28th, visit houstonballet.org. SPONSOR: Chicago's Wrightwood 659 presents Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet and the life of Robert Joffrey. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the Librarys largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffreys contributions to ballet in the U.S. Highlights include rare film from the original performance of the groundbreaking ballet Astarte and Anna Sokolows Opus 65, as well as costumes, props, pointe shoes, posters, correspondence, and other ephemera from the company and Robert Joffreys life. On view October 3rd through Dec 20th. For more information, visit wrightwood659.org

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with Three of Vail’s most beloved returning artists: Lauren Lovette, Unity Phelan and Robbie Fairchild.Fairchild, a former NYCB Principal Dancer, became a Tony-nominated Broadway star originating the role of Jerry Mulligan in An American in Paris before going on to film, acting, and an ever-evolving performance life. Lovette, also a former NYCB principal, continues to grace the stage and is currently serving as Resident Choreographer of the Paul Taylor Dance Company and earning commissions from ABT, Vail, and beyond. Unity Phelan continues her extraordinary career as a principal dancer with New York City Ballet and international guest artist!Stay tuned for more episodes coming from the Vail Dance Festival 2026.Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by The Town of Vail.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by star ballerina and resident choreographer of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Lauren Lovette. We talk to Lauren about the leap of faith she took in leaving New York City Ballet to freelance, how her choreographic voice has developed since being offered her role as resident choreographer and what to expect from her dual world premieres this fall season. Tickets for Paul Taylor's fall season at the David H Koch theater this Oct 31st through Nov 12th can be purchased at paultaylordance.org. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR:New York Theatre Ballet celebrates its 45-year legacy with a Fall program of World and Company Premieres by Artistic Director Steven Melendez, Douglas Dunn, David Gordon, and Amanda Treiber, Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7 at Florence Gould Hall in New York City. New York Theatre Ballet performs small classic masterpieces and new contemporary works for adults and innovative hour-long ballets for young children, all at affordable prices. This seasons Once Upon a Ballet series features The Firebird and Merce Cunninghams Scramble for four family-friendly shows, Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8. For tickets and information, please visit NYTB.org/tickets.

Acclaimed Choreographer Claudia Schreier returns to the Vail Dance Festival this year with a new work to commissioned music by Conrad Tao. A classic Vail success story, join the Conversations On Dance podcast as they talk to Claudia about her origins at VDF as an intern and chart her path to one of the most highly sought after choreographers in the country. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 7, 2022 with special guest host, Kate Penner. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by internationally renowned choreographer Lar Lubovitch. We talk to Lar about his late start in dance, the benefits of creating works on his company and the differences in the creative process for the dozens of commissions he received over decades whether for the most respected ballet companies in the world, musical theater or ice dancing. If you're in the New York area, come celebrate Lar's career this December 3rd at the Guggenheim Works & Process presentation 'Lar Lubovitch at 80: Art of the Duet', which will feature duets Lar choreographed throughout his career. Tickets are available at guggenheim.org/initiatives/works-process.Complexions at the Joyce Nov. 14 - Nov 26: https://www.joyce.org/performances/complexions-contemporary-balletTry Audible Plus free for 30 daysGive the gift of Audible Plus

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance', we have celebrated choreographer Cathy Marston on to discuss her upcoming premiere for Houston Ballet, Summer and Smoke'. Cathy tells us what drew her to Tennesse Williams' play as source material for a new ballet, her casting process and creating to composer Michael Daugherty's original score for the work. If you are in the Houston area, you can attend performances of Summer and Smoke' from March 9 through 19th, with tickets available to purchase on houstonballet.org.

Today we are joined by choreographer Cathy Marston. Cathy began choreographing while still at the Royal Ballet School, ultimately leaving life as a professional dancer to pursue choreography full time. She has carved out a unique identity for herself as a choreographer who dives head first into creating full length narrative works based on beloved literary classics and other preexisting source material. We talk to Cathy about her creative process in adapting text to steps, her upcoming premiere of Of Mice and Men' at the Joffrey and her plans for Ballet Zurich, where she will take over as artistic director in the coming year. See Of Mice and Men' at the Joffrey Ballet April 27 May 8, 2022 at Joffrey Ballet. Tickets and more information on their website: joffrey.org.

Today on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by choreographer Trey McIntyre. Trey first made his mark as a choreographer in the role of choreographic apprentice at Houston Ballet, a position created for him by then-director Ben Stevenson. He has since created dozens of works on internationally renowned companies, as well as founded his own company The Trey McIntyre Project' and received critical and public attention for his work as a photographer. We talk to Trey about his early years at Houston Ballet, what it's been like to return to choreograph for the company throughout the years, and his new work Pretty Things', set to the music of David Bowie will be performed in Houston from May 20th to the 29th. Get your tickets at houstonballet.org.

Today we are joined by choreographer, Trey McIntyre. Yesterday, on August 4th, 2020, Trey announced the reimagining of his Trey McIntyre Project, as a way to adapt dance to the COVID era. He has dubbed this new project, FLTPK (flatpack) which is an online subscription service that gives viewers access to one-of-a-kind, original dance works by some of the greatest dance makers on the planet. Access to these works is exclusive to FLTPKs Patreon platform accessible at fltpk.com. We talk with Trey about what life has been like for him since the pandemic hit the U.S. in March, how he has been able to be creative during this time, how this idea came about, and how FLTPK works.

This week on Conversations On Dance', we are joined by esteemed choreographer Trey McIntyre, whose second work for the San Francisco Ballet recently premiered in the company's Unbound Festival. Trey's rise to prominence as a choreographer began when Ben Stevenson, then director of the Houston Ballet, created the position of choreographic apprentice for him. He has gone on to choreograph works for the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Stutgartt Ballet and many others. In 2005, he found his own dance company, the Trey McIntyre Project, which was an immense critical success and was lauded for its innovative business model. Trey has recently added photographer to his list of considerable talents, with his work being published by the New York Times, The Washington Post and the Boston Globe. To see and support Trey's photographic work, check out patreon.com/treymcintyre.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance' we are joined by choreographer Jodi Melnick. (Listen to our most recent conversation with Jodi in episode 300). Jodi has been featured on the podcast several times to explore the range of her experiences as both choreographer and dancer, but today we focus specifically on how Jodi defines and explores the collaborative process. Jodi's latest creative output, a work for American Ballet Theatre principal, Devon Teuscher will be featured at Art Bath in New York City on November 12th. Tickets are available at artbathnyc.com. See Jodi in her collaboration with Maya Lee-Parritz at Weiss Acres, Sunday Dec 11th.

Choreographer Jodi Melnick has found international acclaim with her unique approach to the art form, encapsulating seemingly disparate moments of subtlety, nuance, recklessness and drama. The Conversations On Dance podcast leads a discussion with Melnick about her artistic identity, creative process and her new work premiering at VDF this year, set to a commissioned score by Andreia Pinto-Correia. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 4, 2022 with special guest host, Patricia Delgado. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge.

This week we bring you an episode we recorded at New York Citys Guggenheim museum in January. We wanted to catch up with New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Sara Mearns, and Jodi Melnick, contemporary choreographer to hear about their Works and Process at the Guggenheim that they were putting together. We chatted with the pair quickly between rehearsals, so we could offer our listeners a preview of this work One of Sixty-Five Thousand Gestures/ NEW BODIES that will be going to the Spoleto Festival in Charelston, South Carolina June 7-10. For more information about the festival and performances running May 25-June 10th, visit Spoletousa.org. To get tickets to see Sara and Jodi, search NEW BODIES on the Spoleto website, or click here.

This week on Conversations On Dance', we are joined by the choreographic team sweeping the modern dance world, Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener. The duo performed together at Merce Cunningham Dance company where they discovered their choreographic compatibility and a similar willingness to explore the way abstraction and representation coincide in the body. Their works have been presented at MoMA PS1, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, NY Live Arts, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and many other prestigious venues throughout the country. They will premiere Switch' for the Joyce theater this Oct 2-6. Tickets may be purchased at www.Joyce.org .

This week we are presenting our final episode recorded from the Vail Dance Festival in August 2017. Today we sit down with Matthew Neenan, PA Ballet Choreographer in Residence & Co-founder of BalletX. Matthew began his dance training at the Boston Ballet School, later continuing his studies at the School of American Ballet. From 1994-2007 Neenan danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet. In 2006, Matthew received the New York City Ballets Choreographic Institutes Fellowship Initiative Award, and in 2007 was named Choreographer in Residence at Pennsylvania Ballet. His work has been performed at the Washington Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet West, and many others. In 2005, Matthew co-founded BalletX with fellow dancer Christine Cox. BalletX has toured and performed Neenans choreography in New York City at The Joyce Theater and The Skirball Center, at the Vail Dance Festival, and at Jacobs Pillow. Today we talk with Matthew about his dancing career, his choreography, how the evolution of Pennsylavnia ballet has changed his work, the founding of BalletX while still dancing, and the hopes and dreams he has for the company going forward.

Welcome to a special episode of Conversations on Dance recorded live at Works & Process at the Guggenheim. In the conversation, we sit down with Philadelphia Ballet resident choreographer Juliano Nunes to discuss his brand new 'Romeo and Juliet' that is having it's world premiere at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia on April 30th. Throughout the event, we take moments to pause and watch the artists of Philadelphia Ballet dance and be coached by Juliano. You can watch the event in it's entirety on YouTube here.Romeo and Juliet runs for 11 performances at the Academy of Music this season, from April 30 through May 10. For tickets and more information, visit philadelphiaballet.org.Watch the full event on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpE3tF7eOpk

Today we are bringing you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival on the Vail premiere of The Little Prince. We are joined by choreographer, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and BalletX dancer who dances the title role in the peice, Roderick Phifer. This episode was recorded on July 29th, 2019, one day before the ballet will hit the stage here in Vail on the evening of July 30th. Tune into our previous chat with Annabelle in episode 90.

Welcome to another live podcast from San Francisco Ballet. In this episode we are joined by festival choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. This episode is a recording of a live Meet the Artist event that took place before a performance of the Unbound festival on April 22nd. For more live content like this from other San Francisco Ballet performances, please check out San Francisco Ballets podcast network on iTunes. Stay tuned to Conversations on Dance for regularly programmed Monday episodes, as well as continued bonus content from our time in San Francisco. Enjoy, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, LIVE from San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival. We are back from San Francisco where we recorded a massive 26 episodes that are waiting to be published on your feed. We chatted with world class choreographers about their careers and work including Christopher Wheeldon, Stanton Welch, and Edwaard Liang, ballet master Katita Waldo, as well as some of the remarkable dancers of San Francisco Ballet, like Sarah Van Patten, Ana Sophia Scheller, and Sofiane Sylve. Subscribe now on iTunes to recieve notifications of new episodes when they are published. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for some behind the scenes content and new episode alerts

This episode was recorded live on October 18, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. Guests in this episode are is Tony Award winning choreographer, Justin Peck, and Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Gonzalo Garcia. The pre-performance talk coordinated with the all Peck program that the company opened their season with, which included "Year of The Rabbit," "Chutes and Ladders," and "Heatscape." WATCH this episode on YouTube! Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je6FADBH-eQ

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by choreographer Justin Peck to discuss his new work for Houston Ballet 'Under the Folding Sky'. Justin talks about how seeing the art work of James Turrell in Houston provided a jumping off point, how he's waited for almost a decade to use the ballet's Phillip Glass score and what it's been like to explore an epic scale of dance in this work for 24 artists. If you are in the Houston area, you can purchase tickets to see Justin's new work on houstonballet.org. 'Under the Folding Sky' runs on the 'Divergence' program alongside works by Aszure Barton and Stanton Welch from May 25th to June 4th.

Join the Conversations On Dance podcast in an exploration of two art forms and how they coalesce into a single harmonious ballet. Join musician, Johnny Gandelsman of Brooklyn Rider and Choreographer Justin Peck as they will talk about how the ways in which their art forms intersect and diverge and how the collaborative process informs and elevates their own work. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 5, 2022. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. _________________________________ Join Brooklyn-based contemporary ballet company, konverjdans for their performances of Kwento on August 26 and 27 at 7:30pm at Triskelion Arts in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Featuring three new works choreographed by each of the artistic directors, Amy Saunder, Jordan Miller and Tiffany Mangulabnan, Kwento, also the Tagalog word for story, tells stories of love, friendship, loss, and reunion through dance, live and original music, costume design, and film projection. Visit www.konverjdans.com for ticket information and more.

Few choreographers have impacted the dance world in the past decade the way Justin Peck has. He burst onto the scene ten years ago with major commissions for New York City Ballet, eventually becoming the companys Resident Choreographer. This was followed by his Tony Award-winning Broadway debut choreographing Carousel, and his cinematic debut for Steven Spielbergs award-winning film remake of West Side Story. Peck joins the Conversations On Dance podcast to talk about his world premiere at VDF this year, where he will collaborate with bluegrass artist Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, National Public Radio), as well as the Vail premiere of his most recent New York City Ballet work, Partita. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on July 30, 2022. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Photo by Christopher Duggan

Today we are sharing with you our final LIVE event recording from the 2021 Vail Dance Festival. In this episode, we are joined by New York City Ballet Resident Choreographer, Justin Peck, and dancer and actor, Robbie Fairchild. These two have been friends since they were students at the School of American Ballet, working together throughout their time with New York City Ballet. They talk about how they first became inspired by the theatre, their aspirations for Broadway, and their forays into film. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival on August 7, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Please note, we did have some technical difficulties with the sound on one of the microphones during this recording. We apologize in advance. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode.

This week we are with Justin Peck, LIVE from San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival in a live Meet The Artist event before the opening night of San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival. We talk about his career, his process, and about the concept behind his new ballet for SFB, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. Stay tuned this week for more from the festival coming soon!

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographer Helen Pickett. We talk to Helen about her time working with William Forsythe at Ballett Frankfurt, how she began her own choreographic journey and the process creating "Crime and Punishment", the first full-length ballet choreographed by a woman at American Ballet Theatre. "Crime and Punishment" will be performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC from February 12th through 16th. To purchase tickets, visit Kennedy-Center.org.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by internationally acclaimed choreographer Arthur Pita and Royal Danish Ballet dancer Isabella Carroll. They take us through Arthur's process creating a new full length production of "The Great Gatsby" for the Royal Danish Ballet in the centennial year of the novel, touching on how the idea for the project came to fruition, how the dancers developed the iconic characters and what role production design has in bringing this classic American story to life. If you are in the Copenhagen area, "The Great Gatsby" premieres May 3rd and runs through May 31st. Tickets.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance' we are joined by choreographer Arthur Pita. Arthur's choreography has been featured across a broad spectrum of art forms including opera, ballet, film, and musical theatre, never shying away from artistic risks like tackling Kafka's Metamorphosis' or creating to the music of Bjork. Today we talk to Arthur about his surprising early inspirations, finding his own choreographic voice and how his new work for Houston Ballet finally found its way to the stage after navigating its way through the pandemic. If you are in the Houston area, you can see Arthur's Good Vibrations' starting Thursday, September 22nd through October 2nd. You can purchase tickets at houstonballet.org. https://www.houstonballet.org/seasontickets/pdps/2022-2023/good-vibrations/

This week on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by choreographer Arthur Pita. Pita graduated with a master's degree from London Contemporary Dance School, and has choreographed internationally in many different formats, including works for opera, musical theatre, plays and film. He has garnered attention for his imaginative and personal re-interpretations of classic narratives like Kafka's Metamorphosis' and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream'. This week at the Joyce Theater in New York City, his interpretation of Roland Topor's The Tenant' will premiere, with American Ballet Theater principal James Whiteside as the lead. This episode was recorded back in April 2018, when we were at San Francisco Ballet for their Unbound Festival, in which Arthur was one of the 12 choreographers who created a new work.

Vail Dance Festival has always been a laboratory for new creations and experimentation, and 2023 is no exception. This live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast will feature choreographers Jamar Roberts and Caili Quan, and cover their creative processes at Vail Dance Festival and how it differs from their choreographic undertakings year round.This Monday August 7th, The Vail Dance Festival comes to you! Dont miss the live stream of Mondays Now: Premieres program at 7:30pm mountain, 9:30pm Eastern. Visit vaildance.org to enjoy an evening of world premieres from the festivals all star cast of choreographers and dancers. You have heard them all right here on Conversations on Dance, now catch them live from the VDF stage on Monday August 7th. Link in the description of this episode for more info. This episode was recorded live on August 5th, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.

WATCH the program on YouTube here.On February 7, 2026, Miami City Ballet presented a first look of world-renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmanskys new commission celebrating MCB founder Toby Lerner Ansins 85th birthday, before its February premiere in Florida. This work blends history, tradition, and forward-thinking creativity, with a score by Johann Strauss. Ratmansky and Miami City Ballets new artistic director Gonzalo Garcia will participate in the discussion, and MCB dancers perform excerpts.Miami City Ballet's 'Into The Magic City' program runs February 20th - March 1 in Miami and West Palm Beach. The program includes the World Premiere of 'Roses from the South, Three Waltzes for Toby' as discussed here, as well as George Balanchine's 'Serenade' and 'Tarantella'. Tickets available here.Works & Process at the Guggenheim is a non-profit organization dedicated to championing the creative process from studio to stage, with programs just like this one. Find more information and ways to support on their website: https://www.worksandprocess.org/.

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a vibrant live podcast recording spotlighting the Vail Dance Festivals Rising Voices: Gianna Reisen, MyKal Stromile, and Rachel Lockhart. These dynamic emerging artists represent the new generation of dance innovators, each bringing a fresh voice and perspective to the art form. Hear about their journeys, creative visions, and the inspiration behind their work as they prepare to make their mark on the Festival stage. Reisen, Stromile, and Lockhart will be creating new work for this years NOW: Premieres program. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 1, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

This week on Conversations On Dance', we are joined by the choreographic team sweeping the modern dance world, Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener. The duo performed together at Merce Cunningham Dance company where they discovered their choreographic compatibility and a similar willingness to explore the way abstraction and representation coincide in the body. Their works have been presented at MoMA PS1, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, NY Live Arts, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and many other prestigious venues throughout the country. They will premiere Switch' for the Joyce theater this Oct 2-6. Tickets may be purchased at www.Joyce.org .

Every year audiences at the Vail Dance Festival watch the Artist-In-Residence delve deeply into their craft, pushing outside their comfort zone to create rapidly in the ten days the festival spans. This year audiences will be treated to two such artists, the beloved New York City Ballet ballerina Sara Mearns, and highly acclaimed and sought after choreographer Jamar Roberts. Sara and Jamar sit down with Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden to discuss what their artistic output at the festival will be and how the artistic direction of the festival this year is guiding them in their own creative pursuits. Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Vail Dance Festival has always been a laboratory for new creations and experimentation, and 2023 is no exception. This live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast will feature choreographers Jamar Roberts and Caili Quan, and cover their creative processes at Vail Dance Festival and how it differs from their choreographic undertakings year round.This Monday August 7th, The Vail Dance Festival comes to you! Dont miss the live stream of Mondays Now: Premieres program at 7:30pm mountain, 9:30pm Eastern. Visit vaildance.org to enjoy an evening of world premieres from the festivals all star cast of choreographers and dancers. You have heard them all right here on Conversations on Dance, now catch them live from the VDF stage on Monday August 7th. Link in the description of this episode for more info. This episode was recorded live on August 5th, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.

We are joined today by Jamar Roberts, dancer and Resident Choreographer at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival. We talk with Jamar about his origins in dance, his love for visual art, how he got into choreography, and about his world premiere coming to the Vail Dance Festival this year. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, This episode was recorded on August 5, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Experience the Vail Dance Festival from wherever you are this Monday, August 9th, 2021. Enjoy a live-streamed event of the festivals closing evening: NOW Premieres, which we discuss in this episode. Access will be available for one week on VDFs YouTube Channel. More information on VDFs social media channels. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode.

Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Ariel Rose, choreographer and former soloist with Miami City Ballet. Ariel traces his path from Ballet Academy East to Boston Ballet and Richmond Ballet, ultimately landing at Miami City Ballet. He talks with us about how early exposure to live music, performing opportunities, and diverse choreographic processes shaped him. Rose talks about his choreographic journey including his work with Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony, his approach to music selection, and details his new project Ballet Rose: Made in Miami. Don't miss Ballet Rose: Made in Miami, one night only on June 13 at the Florence Gould Theatre in New York City. Tickets and more details are available here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lalliancenewyork/2032602. Learn more on Ariel's website: https://www.balletrose.com/

Acclaimed Choreographer Claudia Schreier returns to the Vail Dance Festival this year with a new work to commissioned music by Conrad Tao. A classic Vail success story, join the Conversations On Dance podcast as they talk to Claudia about her origins at VDF as an intern and chart her path to one of the most highly sought after choreographers in the country. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 7, 2022 with special guest host, Kate Penner. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

Join us for another live Festival Forum panel discussion with Damian Woetzel and Claudia Schreier. Damian Woetzel is the Artistic Director of The Vail Dance Festival and Claudia Schreier is back creating work at the festival for a third time. We talk about Damian's beginnings at the festival and how he developed it's mission. We talk with Claudia about her roots in the Vail Dance Festival as a young intern that grew into a burgeoning career as a choreographer noticed by major companies and critics alike. (Note: This episode was recorded on August 5th, 2018.) Photo: Dandara Veiga and Chris Bloom in Contra at the 2018 Vail Dance Festival. Choreography by Claudia Schreier. Photo by Erin Baiano

Today's episode of Conversations On Dance' is a live podcast from the Guggenheim's Works & Process series. We explore the creation of a new dance driven music theater production The Night Falls', which is set to run February 9th through 12th at Montclair State University. The Night Falls' is a new myth for our fractured era, depicting the metamorphosis of atomized individuals into a true community, with choreography that dramatizes the leap of empathy between bodies and music that channels the polarities of surrender and resistance. In this interview, we are joined by the show's creative team, choreographer and director Troy Schumacher, composer and co-lyricist Ellis Ludwig-Leone and librettist and co-lyricist Karen Russell. Tickets for The Night Falls' can be found at peakperfs.org. We are happy to be able to share a visual companion to this episode. To watch the full interview including the dancing and signing segments, visit Works & Process' YouTube Channel, or click here: https://youtu.be/FfidIh8pi0o.This episode was recorded live on January 22, 2023 as a part of Guggenheim's Works & Process.The Night Falls': Co-produced by BalletCollective, Inc., and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University. The Night Falls was developed during a 2018 residency for Project Springboard: Developing Dance Musicals with further support provided during a virtual creative residency in 2021. This season was made possible, in part, by the Alexander Kasser Theater Endowment Fund, PEAK Patrons, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of the Limn Dance Company, and esteemed choreographer Diego Vega Solorza, whose work for the company will premiere in the company's upcoming Joyce season. Dante tells us how he became familiar with Diego's work and why it was a natural fit for the company and the season, while Diego dives into his creative process and how the Limn dancers have shaped this particular work. The Limn Dance Company will perform at the storied Joyce theater in New York City from Tuesday, October 14th through Sunday October 19th. To purchase tickets visit joyce.org. SPONSOR:Friday through Sunday, November 7th through 9th, join Amanda Treiber and Company for their debut performances at the Mark ODonnell Theater in Brooklyn! Featuring a cast of international artists, including dancers and musicians from New York City Ballet, and a world premiere to music by Philip Glass, these performances showcase NYC-based choreographer and dancer Amanda Treiber's ability to create worlds through unique movement vocabularies and her deep collaborations with dancers, musicians, and visual artists. You won't want to miss it! Reserve your tickets today at amandatreiber.com.

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a vibrant live podcast recording spotlighting the Vail Dance Festivals Rising Voices: Gianna Reisen, MyKal Stromile, and Rachel Lockhart. These dynamic emerging artists represent the new generation of dance innovators, each bringing a fresh voice and perspective to the art form. Hear about their journeys, creative visions, and the inspiration behind their work as they prepare to make their mark on the Festival stage. Reisen, Stromile, and Lockhart will be creating new work for this years NOW: Premieres program. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 1, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Sara Mearns and Pam Tanowitz are two of the most talked about dance artists of their generation, both regarded for their bold, fearless and personal interpretations of their respective art forms. At this years festival, Mearns will be premiering in a new work by Bobbi Jene Smith, while Tanowitz will create a new work to the music of Kate Davis. Join these mavericks of the industry for a discussion with the Conversations On Dance podcast about these premieres and the collaboration Mearns and Tanowitz most recently worked on together at the New York City Ballet. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 3, 2022. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge.

This week we are happy to bring you our full conversation with celebrated Choreographer, Pam Tanowitz, from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival. We spoke with Pam from a Live panel event at Washington DCs Kennedy Center in episode 140 and we were thrilled to be able to get some time to speak with her more in depth about her career and work. As a choreographer, Pam Tanowitz is known for her abstract treatment of classical and contemporary movement ideas. Her work is deeply rooted in formal structures, manipulated and abstracted by her until the viewer sees through to the heart of the dance. In 2000, Tanowitz founded Pam Tanowitz Dance (PTD) to explore dance-making with a consistent community of dancers and has since choreographed works for some of the worlds most renowned dance companies, including The Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor American Modern Dance and New York City Ballet. She has been commissioned by The Joyce Theater, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, Vail Dance Festival, and many other leading arts institutions. Today we talk with Pam about how she studied choreography, what inspires her, how she works in the studio, and about her work created for the Vail Dance Festival. This is book Pam references towards the end of the episode: Pas de Deux: A Textbook on Partnering.

Today we sit down with choreographer Pam Tanowitz from the Vail Dance Festival. We spoke with Pam from a Live event at Washington DCs Kennedy Center in episode 140 and today we get to chat with her about her new creation for Vail. This is a small excerpt of a longer conversation on her work that we will be publishing in the coming weeks. In this bonus episode, Pam gives us some insight into her new piece she is creating here at Vail Dance Festival that will premiere on Monday August 5, 2019 for NOW Premieres. This is book Pam references Pas de Deux: A Textbook on Partnering.

Todays episode was recorded live at The Kennedy Center on Saturday June 1, 2019 before the matinee performance of Miami City Ballet as a part of Ballet Across America. We were joined by Virginia Johnson, the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (who had been performing earlier in the week), Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, and celebrated choreographer, Pam Tanowitz. This panel was put together to discuss women leading the way in ballet. Be sure to explore all the happenings at the Kennedy Center by visiting, kennedy-center.org.

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by dancing extraordinaire Caleb Teicher. Caleb takes us on the journey of their artistic self discovery, from tap to lindy hop and most recently jazz piano. Caleb is pairing up with their friend and frequent collaborator pianist and composer Conrad Tao for 'Counterpoint', an evening length work musically exploring and reimagining everything from Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' to Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'. If you are in the Houston area, visit performingartshouston.org to grab tickets to this one night only, unique and thrilling partnership: September 14, 2024.Tickets: https://performingartshouston.org/events/counterpoint-conrad-tao-caleb-teicher-2024-09-14-730-pm/.Opening Night Party: https://performingartshouston.org/opening-night-party-2024/Conrad Tao And Caleb Teicher: Tiny Desk Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61q6JoGLTc0&t=345s

Today on Conversations On Dance we are joined by New York based choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher. Caleb began their career as a founding member of Michelle Dorance's critically acclaimed company Dorrance Dance, quick achieving personal critical acclaim as well when they received a Bessie Award at age 17. In 2015, Caleb shifted their creative focus towards Caleb Teicher & Company, a creative home for incubating new concert dance works from Teichers unique perspective. We talk to Caleb about their unique early training, how musicality and broad range of musical styles play an integral role in their creative output, and their upcoming performances of SW!NG OUT, directed by Caleb Teicher.' If you are located in the Houston area, see SW!NG OUT on April 9, 2022 at 7:30 at Society for the Performing Arts. Ticket and performance information available at spahouston.org. Take our listener survey: https://conversationsondancepod.com/listener-survey ________________________________

This week we are joined by choreographer and dancer, Myles Thatcher, LIVE from San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival, and his collaborators for his new ballet Otherness, costume designer Sylvie Rood, and nonbinary artist, Kersh Branz. This episode was recorded from a live Meet The Artist event before the opening of Myles ballet at the Unbound festival at San Francisco Ballet. For more live content like this from these events, please check out San Francisco Ballets podcast network on iTunes. Stay tuned to Conversations on Dance as we continue to bring more content to you directly from the festival.

This week we are joined by choreographer, Durante Verzola. Durante began to hone his choreographic talents while training to become a dancer at the Miami City Ballet School. While still dancing professionally at Pennsylvania Ballet and Suzanne Farrell Ballet, the choreographic notices continued to pour in and he's since created many works for Miami City Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and many others. We talk to him about his creative process, how he adapted his methods during COVID and what we can expect to see from him in the future. His work La Follia' will be performed by Miami City Ballet at the Guggenheim Works & Process in NYC on November 21 & 22, as well as in Doral, FL at the Doral Holiday Fest on December 3 & 4. Tickets and more information: Works & Process Tickets. __________________________________

This week on the podcast, we are joined in San Francisco by one of the worlds most in demand choreographers, Christopher Wheeldon. Having trained at Royal Ballet, Wheeldon was taken into the company, but soon transferred to the New York City Ballet, where he rose to the rank of soloist. His choreographic talents were soon recognized and while still in his twenties, he was named resident choreographer of the New York City ballet. He was shortly after in demand at major companies all over the globe, including the Bolshoi Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the Royal Ballet. In 2014, he made his Broadway directorial debut with An American in Paris, a production that garnered him a Tony for his work as choreographer. We talk with him about what it was like finding his voice as a young choreographer, how he made the transition to broadway, and what continues to inspire his work.